Electric storage battery



W. KNOBLOCK.

ELECTHlOSTORAGE BATTERY.

APPLlcAATxoN FILED ram/2,1918.

Patnted Mar, T14, 1922,

W. KNOBLOCK.

ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY.

APPLICATION -Hman MAY 2, ma.

1,409,895. Y Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

2 SHE SSSSSS EET 2| mom/frs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM KNOBLOCK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO CAROLA KNOBLOCK, ONE-THIRD TG VJILLIAM J. GRAHAM, .AND ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN LAMON, ALL OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND ONE-SIXTH TO DE- MOUNT BATTERY CORPORATION, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,l A CORPO- RATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRIC STORAGE EATTERY.

Application filed May 2,

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, VTLLTAM KNoBLoon, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Electric Storage Battery, of vwhich the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to a novel electric stor age battery more particularly to that of the secondary class, the principal objectv being tov provide for conservation of space, increased efficiency, and practicability of the battery. To produce such results, I provide a battery made up of a series of positive and negative electrodes of my novel design, each electrode consisting of a container or tubular grid formed of a plurality of hollow bodies spaced apart and integral with each other, and active material contained in said hollow bodies, a conductor formed longitudinally around said electrode and provided with cross members extending through and imbedded in the active material contained in the hollow bodies, the conductor being also provided with cap plates to provide closures for the open en'ds of said hollow bodies to retain the active material therein.

A further object of my invention is to provide a battery consisting of a series of positive and negative electrodes, each electrode formed of a plurality of hollow bodies for containing the active material, the faces of said electrodes of such raised and depressed formation whereby the opposed electrodes in the assembly of the battery overlap with each other and are properly spaced apart by each .other to afford a passageway for the electrolyte.

A still further object of my invention .is to provide an electrode, the active material container or grid thereof consisting of a plurality of horizontally arranged hollow bodies or polygonal tubes connected together by central vertical webs, the outwardly vconverging walls of the hollow bodies producingraised and depressedportions on the faces of the plate, whereby the faces of the opposed plates overlap withl each. other in the assembly of the battery, the apices or outermost extremity of the outwardly converging walls of the hollow bodies contact- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mai-.14', 1922.

Serial No. 231,989.

ing with the central webs to properly space the electrodes from each other.

Another yobject of my invention is to provide an Velectrode of this character that may be produced from onel or more tubular container grids, the conductor affording a binding means for securing several of said container grids together, to form the unit eleotrode. v

Furthermore, another object of my invention is to provide an electrode consisting of a plurality of containers or grids for the active material, each fof which is formed of a plurality of integral tubular bodies composed of'a porous non-conducting material, the tubular bodies having'a filling of active material vset in at a point adjacent the ends of the tubes, the active material having an opening extending therethrough lengthwise of the tube, a conductor adapted to be longitudinally formed around the outside of the container, in the openings inthe active material and in the set in portions at the ends of vthe tubular bodies to provide the unit vframe for binding the several grid sections` bodying my invention.

'Figure 2 represents a section on the line 2 2 of Figure l, showing the assembly of a series of electrodes of positive and negative polarity. 'Y

Figure represents an end view of thel electrodes assembled,

Figure 4tlrepresents a perspective View showing one of the electrodes made up of several hollow 'body sections or container grids bound together by a conductor completely encircling the'e'lectrode and provided with' fcoresextending'through the hollow bodies wherein the active'agent is contained together with closure caps of the ends of the hollow bodies.

l'ipnire 5 representsv a fragmentary perspective view of one hollow body section of the electrode witha filling of active agent, the active material being cored and set in adjacent the ends of the hollow bodies for the reception of the conductor core and closure caps formed with the conductor.

Figure 6 represents a fragmentary perspective view showing the form the conductor assumes in the finished electrode.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.l

Referring to the drawings. i

trode will "best be understood `by referring to Figures 2 alid 4 ofthe drawings, wherein eaclielectrode consists of a tubular container grid 9 of one or more sections, each grid formed of a. plurality of hollow bodies or polygonal tribes l0, connected together by the central webs 11 integal therewith coni-` y posed of a porous material, preferably earthenwareii of non-conducting qualities.

lThe formation of the faces of the electrodes consists of the outwardly converging walls 12 of thehollow bodies or polygonal` tubes 10 meeting at a common apex 13 forming theraised portions 11i on the faces of theelectrode, whilebetween each of the hollow bodies 10 the opposed.converging walls form depressions or pockets 15 intowhiclithe raised portion 14; of a. hollow body of an adjacent.opposed electrodeis adapted to overlap and be positioned in respect thereto by the apexes `13 of the respective hollow body sections, engaging `the webs 11.u

Between the side walls 12 and the webs 1l of :the opposed electrode in their assembled position, channels or passageways 16 are effected tortlie circulation otthe electrolyte.

The end eleirtiodes of `the. assembled .battery as best seeirin Figure 2 are formed with fiat outer surfaces l?, the same being true of the` upper and lower portions-of the several electrodes as indicated at 18 toiaecoinplisli syiiin'ietry in 'the assembly of the plates for positioning inthe jar and also-.proper `distribution for the active inaterial of the opposed electrodes to produce the best results without an excess of active 1n ateri al.

19 designates active material adapted to becoiitained ini and supported by the hollow bodies 10 ofthe electrode; The active Inaterial 19` is provided Vwith' an opening 20 throughout its length, and isspacedffrom the endsof theliollowbodies as shown at 2l.; A

22` dcsignatesthe metallic conductor for the electrode and consists of the continuous band 23 jwhiclr encircles the elect-rode longitudinally, thcreofrand has formed there- Y withgthefclosure.caps 24: wliichare adapted see Figure l of the drawings, for unitingv several grids or containers together at the intermediate open ends to insure eiiicient conductivity7 and to provide binding means for the several sections.

This manner of utilizing several grid sections in building up. the unit. electrode is most desirablcfor the ei'iiciency of the con-V ductivity ofthe electrode and also inost practical :in the formation `of the hollow body sections in that the sections maybe made in reduced lengths thereby resulting in added strength and greater facility in the application of 'the active material in the hollow bodies thereof.

lt will therefore readily be seen `thatl may utilize one oi' any number of hollow body sections or-grids in making upa unit electrode.

The tubular grids are preferably made from material possessing by nature the porous and non-conducting properties, it being understood however that `tdo not restrict myself to such7 but may resort to mechanical or chemical `ineens toy produce `the saine result. v Y

The opera-tion of my novel Velectrode 4in. connection with a battery preferably of the secondary class will readily `be` appreciated in that l `have provided an electrode of thc highest elliciency and l practicability, the Vfeature of the overlal'ipiiig `faces of the opposed. electrodes insuring a conservation of space and therefor a proportional increase in the carrying capacit-y of the active material of the battery7 while the regularity inthe formation of the faces and the novel separating means in said faces provides forfthc uniform spacing apa-rt ofthe .electrodethereby effecting a uniform circulation ofthe electrolyte throughout the battery.. These 'features together with the forming ofl the tubular grids foracontaining the active agent of: porous non-conducting material enables the electrolyte toperineate into theactiye agent,

vvthe-novel containing means for the active agent also insuring against `short circuiting of the battery.

i 'i o The novel Varrangemen.t of the metallic Y conductor in respect to the-active agent con-1 Atained in the grid insures most efficient conie e ducting ot energy and also provides a most practical binding means where more than one grid section is used in malring up aV unit electrode.

It will be understood from the foregoing that each electrode consists or' a grid having polygonal shaped walls, each forming a series of tubes, as will be understood by reterence to Figure 4. The polygonal shaped walls preferably converge outwardly as seen in Figures 2 and 3, so that the polygonal shaped walls at one side of the positive electrode are nested in the space formed by the polygonal shaped walls at the side ot' a juX- taposed negative electrode. shaped walls are spaced from each other and overlap. Each electrode is preferably constructed substantially the same as that seen in ligure 4, and this may be either a positive or a negative electrode.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An electric storage battery which comprises in combination a series of positive and negative electrodes, each electrode consisting of a tubular grid composed of porous nonconducting material for containing the active material, a conductor for said active material formed with said electrode, and means on the opposed faces of said electrodes for providing engagement therebetween to retain said faces in spaced relation. y 2. An electric storage battery which comprises in combination a series of positive and negative electrodes, each electrode compris ing a tubular grid consisting of a plurality of tubes composed of a porous non-conducting material, said tubes being adapted to contain the active material, a conductor extending longitudinally around the grid and formed with closure caps for the open ends of said tubes, horizontal cross members formed with said conductor and imbedded in and extending through the active material contained in the said tubes, said'electrodes being arranged in staggered relation in the assembly ot' the batterv` and means on the faces of said electrodes for retaining the opposed electrodes in spaced relation thereto to eiiiect uniform passageways for the electrolyte.

An electric storage battery which com prises in combination a series ot' positive and negative electrodes, each electrode comprising a tubular grid and composed of a porous non-conducting material, said tubes being adapted to contain the active agent, a conductor extending longitudinally around the grid and iformed with closure caps for the open ends of said tubes, horizontal cross members formed with said conductor and imbedded in and extending through the active material contained in t-he said tubes, the (-.finfrniug walls oi said tubes forming in These polygonal v regularity raised and depressed portions on the faces of said electrode, said electrodes being arranged in staggered relation in the assembly ot the battery, means on the faces ot said electrodes for spacing apart the walls of said tubes or' the opposed electrodes to effect luniform passageways for the electrolyte, and means whereby the opposed walls ot said tubes of the opposed electrodes are arranged `in parallelism.

et. An electric storage battery which comprises in combination a series ot positive and nega-tive electrodes, each electrode consisting of a tubular grid composed of porous non-conducting material, said grid consist-'ing of a plurality of horizontal polygonal tubes connected together and equidistantly spaced apart by central vertical webs integral therewith, said tubes adapted to contain the active agent, a conductor extending longitudi-y nally around and formed with said grid, said conductor being provided with horizontal connecting members imbedded in and extending through the active material contained in said tubes, cap plates on said conductor for closing the ends of said tubes, the walls of said tubes converging outwardly from said central webs forming in regularity raises and'depressions Yon the races of the electrode, and means whereby the outermost transverse apices of said polygonal tubes contact with the central webs of opposed electrodes to retain the walls of the tubes in spaced relation for the circulation of electrolyte therethrough.

5. An electrode for storage batteries which comprises a tubular grid composed of porous non-conducting material said grid formed of a plurality of tubes spaced apart and connected together by central webs integral therewith, active material Yadapted to be supported by and contained within said tubes, a conductor extending around said grid and extending through said tubes and imbedded in the active material contained therein, closure caps formed with said conductor ior closing the open ends of said tubes to retain the active material therein.

6. An electrode for storage batteries which comprises a hollow non-conducting body member provided with alternate elevations and depressions on opposite faces thereof, means Jfor retaining active material in said hollow body member, and a conductor for said active material. s

7. An electrode for storage batteries which comprises a tubular grid composed of a porous non-conducting material, said grid formedot aplurality of tubes spaced apart and connected together by webs integral therewith, active material adapted tobe supported and contained within Isaid tubes, and a conductor passinglongitudinally aroundsaid grid and through Vsaid tubes.rk

S. An electrode tor storage batteries which comprises atubular Container grid composed i or a i porous non-conductingmaterial, said u grid formed ot a plurality of tubesspaced apart and connected together bylivebsyiii-l tegral therewith, active material adaptedto be supported and contained` ivitliinisaid tubes, a conductor passing longitudinally around said grid andathi'oughsaid tubes, and `means on saidviconductor,forming closures for the open endsoi' `said tubes to retain the active material in thetubes.

9. An electrode for storagebatteries which comprises a `tubular grid of porous nou-con-` ducting material, said grid `foi-med of aplurality of, polygonalltuhes spaced equal di stances apart, and connected together by `vertical webs, active .material adaptedto be supported by and: contained within-said tubes, al

conductor longitudinally extending@around` said grid andtliroughsaid tubes and imbedded in the activematerial contained therein, closure caps `formed ivithsaid conductor for` closing theopeniends `oit saidtubes to retain the active materiall therein, the i Walls of-fsaid f ftubes and said vertical Webs forming in regularityraises and depressions onethe tacos` of said clectrmle 10. An` electrode for storage Y batteries i which comprises a tubnlaingrid otporous` non-conducting material, said grid` formed oit.' plurality of "horizontali rectangular ti'ibesspaced equal distances apart and connected together by i central verticall Webs, yacs tive material adapted` tourbe-isupported fbyA and contained Within said tubes,;a conducton formed longitudinally i around "said lgrid and provided with cross connectingmembers `exl tending throughgsaid tubesand` imbedded in the i active 1material contained therein, closure capsiorined Witli` said conductor and seat.V ing in=` the i opeuends 1 ot said tubes ,toi retain theactive yagent in the tubes, tlie walls of said rectangular tubes convergingoutwardly from the said,4 Webs-to form in regularity `alternately raised and depressed portions on the opposite faces of .the grida l1. An `electrode for storage batteries which comprises a plurality of tubular grids composei'lV ot porous nonconductingmate- `rial, each grid formed ot a plurality ot tubes spaced aijiaitand aconnected together binding saidgrids together, said conductor beingpiovided with cross connecting inembers extending through said `tubes and-im- ,bedded in the active material contained therein, closures on said Vconductoradapted to berseated in the openi ends of i-saidvtubes ot the several grids to retain the active agent therein, the -ivalls oisa-id rectangular tubes `converging outwardly from said central Webs to form in regularity alternately raised and depressed portions on the .opposite faces oi" said electrode.

13. An y electrode i for storagevbatteries Which comprises ay tubular grid of porous non-conducting material, said i grid -ormed of aA pluralityf of polygonal `tubes spaced equal distances apart, andiconnected togetheu by vertical `Webs, activeniaterial adapted to be supported by-and lcontained `Withinfsaid tubes, var; conductor longitudinally extending,V

aroundsaid grid and through said tubes and imbedded `in the active material ycontained therein, and closure caps lformed` with said conducton ortclosing-,theopen ends of said tubes to retainthe,activeinaterial therein 1.4i, An electric storage battery having positive electrodes and` negative electrodes the iuxtaposed faces of adjacent electrodes over- Y lapping. 15. Anelectric storage battery having positive and negativevelectrodes With' overlapping-faces, spaced from each-other to forni an: open space for the i electrolyte.- 1

16. Aiiielectric storage `battery having positive electrodesrand negati-ve electrodes,ithe

adjacent faces of Awhich are' parallelly .dis-Y `posediand overlap each other,l overlapping by webs integral therewith, active `material l adapted to` be supported byl and contained` Within said' tubes, `a conductor extending i longituilinally around sai d grids to bind them together, said conductonformed With cross members imbedded in andextending throughthe .active material` contained inthe tubes-oiI saidfgrid, and closure caps formed Witlisaid `conductor forclosing theopen ends of said tubes to retain the activematerial therein and, bind said" tubular grids together.

12., An elertrode` for storage batteries which comprises:aplnrality oftubnlar grids lcomposed. of a porous` nonfconducting mateifiarallelly disposed faces. i

17. An electric storagebattery having positive `and negative electrodes li:iviiigtlieiisides forming a series' ol converging Walls, the coi'ivergingu iv al ls o'lf `a positive electrode being nested vin the spa-ceformed bythe converging walls of a juxtaposed negative electrode.v Y Y 18. yAn electric storagebattery havingpositiveand negativeelectrodes each of which is tubular to i'eceivethe active agent andlprovided with polygonal shaped Walls, with, the Walls of a positive electrodeoverlappng the Walls of .a negative electrode and spaced .therefrom ,to orniaspace for theelectrolyte.

19. Anelectric storageibattery having positive and negative electrodes, each oiii'vliich consists of a plurality Voli polygonally shaped cellsV to receive theactive material With the Walls of juxtaposed positive and negative electrodes overlapping and spaced from each other to forni a space for the electrolyte, and a conductor for each electrode extending through its tubes.

20. An electric storage battery having positive and negative electrodes each of which consists of a plurality of polygonally shaped cells to receive the active material, With the Walls of juxtaposed positive and negative electrodes overlapping and spaced from each other to form a space for the electrolyte, and a conductor for each electrode extending s through its tubes and closing Athe ends of said tubes.

21. An electric storage battery having positive and negative electrodes each of which consists of a plurality of polygonally shaped cells to Vreceive the active agent, with the Walls of juxtaposed positive and negative electrodes overlapping and spaced from each other to form a space for the electrolyte, and a conductor for each electrode extending through its tubes, closing the ends of its tubes and extending around such grid.

WILLIAM KNOBLOCK.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. VIEDERSHEIM, N. BussrNGER. 

